Telephone User's Guide
Introduction
The SL-100 digital switch provides private telephone communication service for The University of Texas at Austin. With the features this system provides, your telephone is capable of many sophisticated operations. The features on your telephone should be selected to reflect your specific needs.
For a feature to work, it must first be installed on your line. All of the features listed in this User Guide are free to university faculty and staff. A phone call to the Business office is all that is needed to have a feature added to or deleted from your line. These requests can generally be handled immediately with little or no waiting. We encourage our users to become aware of the many features available to them through the university telephone system and to make full use of them. However, since some features tie up memory in the switch, we hope you will request deactivation of any features that you find you no longer use or need.
To activate the many features, you simply use the keypad/dial and the switchhook on your telephone. The various rings and tones you hear will assist you.
The instructions that follow will tell you to depress the switchhook momentarily. This is also referred to as "HOOKFLASH." This means that you should hold the switchhook or button down for about one-half second or as long as it takes to say "HOOK-EM." You will know you have completed the hook-flash correctly by the special stutter dial tone that follows.
Holding the switchhook down for more than two seconds will disconnect your call. When completing your call, it is important that you hold the switchhook down long enough to disconnect the first call before making another call. Be sure to listen for a normal dial tone before dialing the next call. Failure to do this when completing long distance calls may result in additional charges.
This guide is a detailed reference to help all users understand and make full use of the university telephone system. Please make it available to everyone in your department. It is not necessary for you to read the entire manual. You may refer to definitions and the detailed instructions for additional help. If further assistance is necessary, contact the Business office at 471-5711.
Telephone Diagrams & Terms
Shown below is a diagram of a single-line telephone. The terms listed provide information about the physical features of the telephone set and tones or signals received from the system, and can help when describing telephone troubles.
Dial: Rotating disk or push-button assembly used for entering digits and accessing features.
Direct-In-Dial: A telephone number which rings directly at a person's desk; the call does not go through an operator or receptionist. (See also Private Branch Exchange below).
Handset: The portion of the telephone containing the transmitter and receiver which is hand held when the telephone is in use.
Handset Cord: The coiled connection between the handset and the base of the telephone.
Hookflash: The process of pressing the switchhook down for one-half second and releasing. The Hookflash is used to access system features. (Refer to Introduction above for further information about hookflash.)
Hunt Group: A series of telephones or telephone numbers on multi-button or single-line phones, which search for a free line when the main number is called. If the first line is busy, the call will ring at the next available line. Members of a hunt group are often referred to as terminals or "terms" of the main number.
Key Telephone System: Electronic (EKS) or electromechanical (KS) telephone system allowing several users access to the same lines. Telephone instruments are usually multi-button (line) sets with a hold button and internal intercom features.
Mounting cord: The connection between the base of the telephone and the wall or floor.
On-hook: The handset is in the cradle.
Off-hook: You are talking, the handset is in your hand.
Private Branch Exchange (PBX): Local departmental automatic telephone system providing internal features and connection of extensions as well as access to the UT campus and public network. (See also Direct-in-Dial, above.)
Receiver: The earpiece or portion of the handset through which you hear the other party's voice.
Station Number: The last five-digits of an on-campus phone number. (Also used to refer to a two- or three-digit intercom number or a three-digit PBX extension.)
Switchhook: A device in the cradle, on the side, or on the top of the telephone which signals the status of the telephone to the switching equipment; on-hook (not in use), or off-hook (in use).
Transmitter: The portion of the handset into which you speak.
Notes:
- Dialing "71" on a rotary dial telephone is equivalent to the "*" on a tone dial telephone.
- Dialing "#" after some phone numbers or a speed call number will speed up the completion of that call. There is no rotary dial equivalent for a "#".
- Features are activated by either a two-digit code "xx" or an asterisk followed by a two-digit code "*xx". Be sure to note the difference when attempting new features.
System Tones
Call Waiting Tone: Two short bursts of 440 Hz tone at 10-second intervals signifying that you have another incoming call. This tone is heard through the receiver while you are talking on the phone.
Circuit Busy Tone: Fast busy -- overflow. Low tone bursts at twice the normal busy tone rate, indicating that all paths to the equipment serving the called party are busy.
Confirmation Tone: One or two short bursts of "Busy" tone to verify that a feature code or function has been completed.
Dial Tone: A constant high pitched tone ( a mixture of 350 and 440 Hz ) indicating that the system is ready to process your call. It is essential that users listen for this tone before dialing phone numbers, especially during times of heavy telephone use (e.g. during snowstorms). The system will not recognize digits that are dialed before a dial tone is established. There is no second dial tone after dialing 9 when calling off campus.
Off-Hook Queue Tone: One burst of 440 Hz tone followed by silence after dialing a number. The tone signifies that all circuits are busy and the system is searching for a free line. STAY ON THE LINE and your call will go through.
Queue Announcement: Works like Off-Hook Queue Tone but, instead of a tone, it gives the recorded announcement, "Please continue holding, your call will be processed."
Receiver Off-Hook Tone: Loud repetitive bursts of attention-getting tones to instruct users to hang up. Usually caused by keeping the phone off-hook too long before dialing or by not hanging up after completing a call.
Ringback Tone: Heard by the calling party to signify that the called telephone is ringing. Also known as audible ringing. The ringback tone does not necessarily correspond in timing with the ringing at the called station. (This is why it is possible for a party to answer the phone before the caller hears ringing.)
Special Information Tone (SIT): Three ascending tones preceding an information message such as one indicating that the party has dialed a number that is disconnected or out of service.
Splash Ring: A short, partial ring at a telephone, usually indicates activation of a feature such as Make Set Busy.
Station Busy Tone: Low-pitched tone interrupted sixty times per minute. This tone indicates that the called station is off-hook or busy.
Stutter (Special) Dial Tone: Three beeps followed by normal dial tone. It signifies that you are either using a feature or are about to enter the long distance system.
Long Distance Authorization Codes
An authorization code is a specific set of digits assigned for your individual use. It identifies you as an authorized user of specific calling privileges. Your authorization code will be provided by Telephone Services with calling capabilities requested by your department. See Long Distance Services.
Departmental PBXs
Several departments have PBX telephone systems. Telephone users with these systems need to dial an additional 9 and wait for a new dial tone before following dialing instructions in this manual.
Many of the features discussed herein are not accessible when using a departmental PBX but are replaced by similar features in the PBX. Consult your PBX Telephone User's Handbook for use of these features.
